Jenna Laine, ESPN Staff Writer 6y

Assessing chances that pending free agents will return to Bucs

TAMPA, Fla -- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers coaching staff and front office will spend the next few days evaluating the team's performance this season and the roster. For players set to become free agents, it's also an opportunity to assess what's next for them. Here's a look at some key free agents and the chances of them returning.

CB Brent Grimes 

In the last two years, Grimes was arguably of the Bucs' best players on defense, leading the league in pass breakups in 2016. In 2017, he dealt with a shoulder injury that forced him to miss three games, but was still very productive and by far their best cornerback.  Grimes hasn't made a decision about his future yet, but the return of head coach Dirk Koetter and Mike Smith will help.

"I like Dirk, I like the coaching staff, I like this team, I like the city, it was fun. All that will definitely weigh into my decision," Grimes said. "I've got some stuff to think about, but they made it clear that they like what I do and would like to have me back. So that's a good thing, but right now I'm just going to go home, relax and think about it for a little bit. I'll have my answer; I won't have people in limbo too long."

Grimes will be 35 next season, so it might  be tough to gauge what his free-agent market would look like. He also has to determine if he thinks the Bucs will rebound and return to their 9-7 form from 2016. Either way, it's clear that the Bucs need to inject more resources into this position, preferably with some experience, as the drop-off was significant in the games in which Grimes didn't play.

QB Ryan Fitzpatrick

With quarterback Jameis Winston under investigation by the league for an incident involving an Uber driver, the Bucs would be very smart to bring Fitzpatrick back. In fact, it should be a priority. This is absolutely something they have to prepare for, especially if Winston gets the Ezekiel Elliott treatment, which would mean they'd be without their starting quarterback for six games.

Fitzpatrick showed his value when he stepped in for the injured Winston and performed very well, throwing seven touchdown passes and three interceptions and winning two games in three starts. His steadiness, despite whatever circumstances were going on around him, was also something Winston said he learned a great deal from, and the two developed a strong relationship despite an 11-year age gap. And contrary to what people might think, Fitzpatrick isn't necessarily looking for a starting job next season.

“At this point in my career, I'm not going to be given or gifted a chance to start anywhere, probably," Fitzpatrick said. “You know, there’s a lot of things that weigh into it now for me now that maybe didn’t years ago, just in terms of family and different situations. I enjoyed the year I’ve had here and even just the Tampa area in general. But this team, I think Jameis did a good job this year and you can see the improvement in his game. I’d enjoy being back. I really enjoyed my role this year, but you never know. We’ll see what happens.”

DE Clinton McDonald

McDonald lost his starting job when Chris Baker came in, although he performed a lot better than Baker despite being a rotational player and also missing two games with a back injury. He averaged $3 million per season with the Bucs. His leadership is excellent and his production was still strong, as he finished with five sacks lining up next to Gerald McCoy. If they wanted to keep him as a rotational player, which would allow him to possibly keep his production despite turning 31 in a few days, they'd be wise to go younger here and cut the 30-year-old Baker, who wasn't a good fit.

RB Charles Sims

Sims contributed the third-most yards from scrimmage of any Bucs player in the last four years, behind only Mike Evans and Doug Martin, despite starting just two games in that span.  His 4.52 rushing yards per attempt was actually the highest average of any Bucs running back this year, despite having the fewest touches. Six of his 21 rushes resulted in first downs. If they can keep him as a change-of-pace back at the right price, they should consider it.

S T.J. Ward

Ward came to the Bucs from the Denver Broncos on a one-year deal worth $5 million. A three-time Pro Bowl pick, Ward voiced his displeasure early in the season when he said,  "I didn't come here to rotate" and was at his "wit's end." It just wasn't a great fit, and quite honestly, didn't make much sense to bring him to Tampa at that price if he was just going to be a rotational player. Ward excels in the box and as a blitzer and he wasn't used that way in a system that asks its safeties to act interchangeably versus the traditional strong safety and free safety roles.

^ Back to Top ^